Man drives motorcycle off road, sustains major injuries

A motorcyclist sustained major injuries after he drove off the road near Petrolia and hit a telephone pole, according to authorities.

Joshua R. Orion, 26, was traveling eastbound on Mattole Road when he went off the road east of Petrolia on Saturday around 3:10 p.m., according to a California Highway Patrol release. Orion, a Whitethorn resident, was wearing a helmet but sustained major injuries and was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Redding.

According to the CHP, DUI was not a factor and the incident is under investigation.